tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
A SECOND wave of swine flu has swept the Hunter and prompted renewed warnings from health authorities.
Hunter New England Health said the annual flu season had started early this year and about 90per cent of reported influenza cases had been H1N1, otherwise known as swine flu. Both pregnant women and children have already been admitted to intensive care this year with the virus.
Among them was Justine Williamson, of Raworth, who was 38 weeks pregnant when she went into hospital for a scheduled caesarean only to discover she also had swine flu.
??I was lucky they picked it up that day,?? Mrs Williamson said.
??My son saved my life.??
Hunter New England Health public health physician David Durrheim said they had recorded 57 confirmed cases of influenza this season and of those tested, most were swine flu.
This compared with five cases this time last year and 150 at the height of the pandemic in 2009.
Dr Durrheim urged vulnerable groups to get a flu shot to vaccinate against all three circulating strains of the flu.
??We have seen a similar pattern with swine flu over the last three years,?? Dr Durrheim said.
??It really affects pregnant women, small children particularly those with underlying health conditions.
??Aboriginal people have in particular borne the burden of swine flu.??
Dr Durrheim said he feared some people had become complacent about vaccination after a drop in publicity.
??But there?s still people who are extremely at risk and it?s really important that they get themselves protected,?? he said.
??Get it as soon as possible because it takes two weeks to build up. This is really the last chance.??
Ms Williamson said when she was admitted for her caesarean the only symptom that she was ill was a high temperature.
Nurses picked up the H1N1 post-surgery when she started having breathing difficulties.
Ms Williamson spent a week in intensive care.
At one stage she had pneumonia in both lungs and five doctors treating her.
??I was very close to having to be put on a ventilator,?? she said.
Her son Oscar Marley avoided the virus and was given medication when his mother was diagnosed.
Mother and son were released from hospital yesterday.
http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/baby-saved-mums-life/2215504.aspx
Hunter New England Health said the annual flu season had started early this year and about 90per cent of reported influenza cases had been H1N1, otherwise known as swine flu. Both pregnant women and children have already been admitted to intensive care this year with the virus.
Among them was Justine Williamson, of Raworth, who was 38 weeks pregnant when she went into hospital for a scheduled caesarean only to discover she also had swine flu.
??I was lucky they picked it up that day,?? Mrs Williamson said.
??My son saved my life.??
Hunter New England Health public health physician David Durrheim said they had recorded 57 confirmed cases of influenza this season and of those tested, most were swine flu.
This compared with five cases this time last year and 150 at the height of the pandemic in 2009.
Dr Durrheim urged vulnerable groups to get a flu shot to vaccinate against all three circulating strains of the flu.
??We have seen a similar pattern with swine flu over the last three years,?? Dr Durrheim said.
??It really affects pregnant women, small children particularly those with underlying health conditions.
??Aboriginal people have in particular borne the burden of swine flu.??
Dr Durrheim said he feared some people had become complacent about vaccination after a drop in publicity.
??But there?s still people who are extremely at risk and it?s really important that they get themselves protected,?? he said.
??Get it as soon as possible because it takes two weeks to build up. This is really the last chance.??
Ms Williamson said when she was admitted for her caesarean the only symptom that she was ill was a high temperature.
Nurses picked up the H1N1 post-surgery when she started having breathing difficulties.
Ms Williamson spent a week in intensive care.
At one stage she had pneumonia in both lungs and five doctors treating her.
??I was very close to having to be put on a ventilator,?? she said.
Her son Oscar Marley avoided the virus and was given medication when his mother was diagnosed.
Mother and son were released from hospital yesterday.
http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/baby-saved-mums-life/2215504.aspx